Tutorials

Learn How to Draw a Hamburger in Vector Ink

Introduction

In this fun Vector Ink tutorial, you'll build a tasty hamburger icon from scratch. We'll stack rectangles, round corners for buns, add cheese, meat, and lettuce, then finish with outlines and sesame seeds. Follow along on desktop or Android—no prior experience required!

Step 1: Create the Stack with Rectangles

Open a new document in Vector Ink and zoom into the canvas (Option/Alt + Mouse Wheel). Select the Rectangle Tool and draw a wide rectangle for the top bun. With it selected, tap Duplicate to create four more rectangles beneath it—these will become ketchup, cheese, meat, and the bottom bun.

Resize the second rectangle to roughly half the height of the first (it should snap). Continue duplicating and arranging so you have a vertical stack of five rectangles (top bun, ketchup, cheese, meat, bottom bun).

Step 2: Round the Corners for That Soft Bun Look

Use the Corner Tool to round corners:

  • Top bun: Select only the top two corners and drag the corner handles down until fully rounded.
  • Middle layers (ketchup, cheese, meat): Select all four corners for each and round them fully.
  • Bottom bun: Select only the bottom two corners and round fully.

Step 3: Adjust Layer Heights & Overlaps

With the Selection Tool, nudge the second rectangle up so it meets the bottom of the top bun (it should snap halfway). Do the same for the cheese and meat so each layer meets the one above it. Pull the bottom bun up so it overlaps the meat slightly—this creates a stacked, sandwich-like silhouette.

Step 4: Choose a Color Palette

Open the Fill Color panel and browse the Color Palette Library. Pick warm tones (oranges/reds/yellows) and add a deep brown for outlines. A suggested mapping:

  • Top & bottom buns: orange
  • Ketchup: red
  • Cheese/mustard: yellow
  • Meat: dark brown
  • Outline: darkest brown

Apply fills to each rectangle. If needed, use Bring to Front on the top bun so it sits over other layers.

Step 5: Add Lettuce with the Draw Tool and Path Builder

Select the Draw Tool. In its properties, set the stabilizer length to about 4 for responsive control. Draw a squiggly line beneath the cheese, overlapping the edges of the meat and bottom bun to ensure intersections.

With the lettuce path selected, open the Path Builder Tool, switch to Join Mode (pencil icon), and trace the region that forms the wavy lettuce edge against the bun. When the region highlights, confirm to create the new lettuce shape. Fill it with green and remove any helper paths you don't need.

Step 6: Add Cheese Drips

To create drips, draw two thin rectangles between the cheese layer and the meat. Round the bottom corners of the lower thin rectangle and the top corners of the upper thin rectangle for a taper effect. Duplicate this pair to add a second drip.

Select the meat plus the two upward-pointing drip rectangles and use a boolean Unite to merge if desired. Then, with the cheese selected, use Path Builder → Join Mode to carve the final drip silhouette that blends cleanly into the cheese. Delete the temporary rectangles and fill the resulting drip shape with the same cheese yellow.

Step 7: Global Outline & Sesame Seeds

Select everything and open the Stroke panel. Set the stroke color to your darkest brown and increase stroke width (around 8px looks bold and friendly).

For sesame seeds: switch to the Ellipse/Circle Tool, place a few small ovals on the top bun, set fill: white, stroke: 0, and duplicate them around for a natural scatter.

Step 8: Final Touches

Re-check stacking order (top bun above fillings), tweak spacing, and scale the whole burger as needed. Keep shapes simple and readable—this icon works great at small sizes as a logo or UI graphic.

Conclusion

You just built a delicious hamburger icon using Vector Ink—stacking shapes, rounding corners, carving with the Path Builder, and adding playful details. This same workflow applies to countless food and product icons—clean, bold, and brand-friendly.

Ready to cook up your next icon? Practice with different toppings (onion rings, tomatoes, pickles) and try a few color variations.

Launch Vector Ink and start crafting tasty vector designs in minutes!

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